Being a pet owner comes with its own set of joys and challenges. While pets bring immeasurable happiness, they can also add to your cleaning woes. If you’re wondering, “How can I maintain a clean home while still having time to enjoy my pets?” you’re in the right place. This comprehensive guide offers actionable tips and highlights when it might be beneficial to bring in professional home cleaning services to handle the heavy lifting.
The Fur Challenge
Fur and pet hair are often the most immediate challenges pet owners face.
Tips:
Regular Grooming: Consistent grooming will help control shedding and make it easier to keep your home clean. Sometimes, though, you’ll need home cleaning services for that thorough, deep clean.
Vacuum Regularly: For day-to-day cleaning, a specialized pet vacuum cleaner will do wonders. However, occasional visits from home cleaning services can ensure no pet hair lurks in those hard-to-reach places.
Lint Rollers: Great for a quick fix, but when it comes to large-scale fur removal from fabric surfaces, nothing beats professional home cleaning services.
Furniture Covers: Easily washable, these can be a lifesaver. But for a fresh start, consider a deep upholstery cleaning from your trusted home cleaning services.
The Odor Dilemma
Unpleasant odors can creep into your living spaces, especially if you have indoor pets.
Tips:
Regular Baths: This helps reduce odors and keeps your pet’s coat healthy. For a more thorough odor removal, however, home cleaning services are indispensable.
Ventilation: Home cleaning services often include indoor air quality checks that can help with long-term odor management.
Odor Neutralizers: Day-to-day odor neutralizers are great, but sometimes professional home cleaning services are required for a deep, lasting freshness.
Accidents Happen
Accidents, spills, and the occasional mishap are inevitable when you have pets.
Tips:
Immediate Cleaning: Spot cleaning is crucial. For stubborn stains that refuse to go away, consult home cleaning services that specialize in stain removal.
Training and Boundaries: Training helps, but sometimes you need professional home cleaning services to fully eliminate accident residues and odors.
Puppy Pads and Litter Boxes: Useful, but not foolproof. Home cleaning services often offer specialized cleaning packages tailored for homes with pets.
Keeping the Paw-prints at Bay
Pets love the outdoors, but they can bring in a lot of dirt and grime.
Tips:
Entryway Mats: A good first line of defense. For comprehensive cleaning, especially during wet seasons, consider scheduling regular visits from home cleaning services.
Paw Cleaning Stations: A quick wipe down can prevent a lot of mess, but sometimes muddy paw prints get everywhere. That’s when home cleaning services can save the day.
Conclusion
Pets fill our homes with joy and love, but they also add to our list of chores. Thankfully, maintaining a clean home with pets is easier than you think—especially when you complement your efforts with professional home cleaning services. These services can provide that extra layer of cleanliness, ensuring that your home is not just surface-level clean, but deep-down clean.
Everyone wants their home to smell fresh and pleasant, but sometimes, unpleasant odors can take over. Whether it’s from pet odors, mildew, smoke, or something else, these smells can be difficult to get rid of. In this article, we’ll explore six of the most common unpleasant smells in the home and offer tips on how to eliminate them.
Pet Odors
Pets are a source of joy for many households, but they can also be the source of some unpleasant odors. The most common source of pet odors is urine, which can penetrate carpets, furniture, and even the subflooring if not cleaned up immediately. To eliminate pet odors, start by thoroughly cleaning any areas where your pet has urinated. Use a pet-specific cleaning product, or make your own by mixing equal parts white vinegar and water. Let the solution sit for five to ten minutes, then blot it up with a clean cloth. Repeat until the odor is gone.
Mildew Odors
Mildew is a type of fungus that grows in damp, humid environments, and its musty odor can be hard to get rid of. To eliminate mildew odors, find and eliminate the source of the moisture. This could mean fixing a leak, installing a bathroom fan, or simply opening a window. Once the source of the moisture is taken care of, clean the affected area thoroughly with a mildew-specific cleaner or a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water.
Smoke Odors
Smoke odors can come from a variety of sources, including cigarettes, fireplaces, and even cooking. To eliminate smoke odors, start by airing out the affected area. Open windows, turn on fans, and run an air purifier to help remove the smoke particles from the air. Then, clean any surfaces that have been affected by the smoke. For surfaces like carpets, curtains, and upholstery, you may need to use a professional smoke odor removal service.
Garbage Odors
Garbage odors can be caused by a variety of things, including spoiled food, dirty diapers, and old trash. To eliminate garbage odors, start by removing the source of the odor and properly disposing of it. Then, clean the affected area thoroughly with a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water. For particularly stubborn garbage odors, try using a natural odor absorber like baking soda or activated charcoal.
Musty Odors
Musty odors can be caused by a variety of things, including dampness, mold, and mildew. To eliminate musty odors, start by finding and eliminating the source of the dampness. This could mean fixing a leak, installing a dehumidifier, or simply opening a window. Then, clean the affected area thoroughly with a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water. If you suspect that mold is the source of the musty odor, call a professional mold remediation service.
Chemical Odors
Chemical odors can come from a variety of sources, including cleaning products, paint, and pesticides. To eliminate chemical odors, start by airing out the affected area. Open windows, turn on fans, and run an air purifier to help remove the chemicals from the air. Then, clean any surfaces that have been affected by the chemicals. If you’re using a cleaning product that is causing a chemical odor, try switching to a natural, non-toxic alternative.
In conclusion, unpleasant odors in the home can be caused by a variety of things, but with the right approach, they can be eliminated. Whether it’s pet odors, mildew, smoke, garbage, musty, or chemical odors, the key is to find the source of the problem and clean it thoroughly. In addition to cleaning, using natural odor absorbers, such as baking soda or activated charcoal, can help to get rid of stubborn odors. And if the source of the odor is particularly difficult to identify or eliminate, consider seeking the help of a professional. With these tips, you can have a fresh, pleasant-smelling home in no time.
A clean and organized kitchen is not only a pleasant place to cook and eat, but it can also prevent the spread of bacteria and other harmful substances. Cleaning your kitchen can seem like a daunting task, but with a little know-how and a few helpful tips, it can be done effectively and efficiently. In this article, we will walk you through the steps of how to clean your kitchen effectively.
Step 1: Gather Your Cleaning Supplies
Before you start cleaning, make sure you have all the necessary supplies. You will need cleaning products such as a multi-surface cleaner, dish soap, a degreaser, and a glass cleaner. You will also need supplies such as sponges, paper towels, a scrub brush, and a bucket.
Step 2: Declutter and Organize
The first step to cleaning your kitchen effectively is to declutter and organize. Remove everything from your counters, cupboards, and drawers and sort through your items. Discard any expired or unneeded items, and put away items that belong in other rooms. Make sure to empty your sink and put away any dirty dishes.
Step 3: Dust and Wipe Down Surfaces
Begin by dusting any surface areas such as countertops, cabinets, and shelving. Use a damp cloth to wipe down the surfaces and remove any cobwebs or dust bunnies. Pay special attention to areas that are prone to collecting grease, such as the range hood and stovetop.
Step 4: Clean the Sink and Fixtures
The sink and fixtures are some of the most used and abused areas of the kitchen. Clean the sink by wiping it down with a damp cloth and a multi-surface cleaner. Scrub the fixtures with a scrub brush and a degreaser. Rinse with water and dry with a clean cloth.
Step 5: Clean the Stovetop and Oven
Next, tackle the stovetop and oven. If you have a gas stove, make sure to turn off the burners before cleaning. For the stovetop, use a degreaser to remove any grease and grime. If you have a smooth-top stove, be sure to use a special cleaner made for glass-ceramic surfaces. For the oven, remove any loose debris and use a degreaser and a scrub brush to remove any built-up grease. If your oven is self-cleaning, you can use that feature as well.
Step 6: Clean the Refrigerator and Freezer
The refrigerator and freezer should be cleaned on a regular basis, as food spills and condensation can lead to the growth of bacteria. Start by removing all items from the refrigerator and freezer, discarding any expired or unneeded items. Wipe down the interior with a multi-surface cleaner and a damp cloth. Pay special attention to door gaskets and drawers, as these areas are prone to collecting food particles. Clean the exterior of the refrigerator and freezer with a glass cleaner and a clean cloth.
Step 7: Clean the Dishwasher and Microwave
Finally, clean the dishwasher and microwave. Start by running an empty cycle of the dishwasher using a special cleaner designed for dishwashers. For the microwave, remove any loose food debris and use a degreaser to remove any built-up grease. Wipe down the interior with a multi-surface cleaner and a damp cloth.
Step 8: Mop the Floor
The final step in cleaning your kitchen is to mop the floor. Use a damp mop or a bucket of warm water and a cleaner specifically designed for your flooring type (such as tile, hardwood, or linoleum). If necessary, scrub any stubborn stains with a scrub brush. Make sure to clean under and around appliances, as well as the corners and baseboards. Once the floor is clean, rinse with water and allow it to dry completely.
Additional Tips for Keeping Your Kitchen Clean
Wipe down surfaces daily: To prevent built-up grease and grime, make sure to wipe down surfaces such as the stovetop, countertops, and sink on a daily basis.
Keep dishes clean and put away: Wash dishes as soon as possible after use and put them away in their proper place. This will keep your sink and counters clear and prevent the growth of bacteria.
Store food properly: Make sure to store food in airtight containers and to properly label and date all items in the refrigerator and freezer. This will prevent spoilage and help keep your kitchen organized.
Regularly clean appliances: Cleaning appliances such as the dishwasher, refrigerator, and oven on a regular basis will prevent the growth of bacteria and keep them running efficiently.
Use a cleaning schedule: Create a cleaning schedule to help keep your kitchen clean and organized. Assign specific tasks to specific days and make sure to stick to the schedule.
In conclusion, cleaning your kitchen effectively is a process that requires a little know-how and the right tools and supplies. By following the steps outlined in this article and using a little elbow grease, you can keep your kitchen clean, organized, and bacteria-free. Happy cleaning!
Even though maintaining a clean bathroom is sometimes a dreaded task, you must do so. Consider the fact that the water and steam in your room invite germs, fungi, and unpleasant odors. Additionally, since it receives a lot of traffic, your bathroom needs regular cleaning.
7 Helpful Tips:
Here are some helpful tips for cleaning your bathroom quickly and effectively.
Remove everything
Remove all items from the bathroom, including towels, carpets, and bathing supplies, as the first step. Then, put the cosmetics, toiletries, and other grooming supplies back in their proper cupboards. Next, remove everything from your bathroom that doesn’t belong there, such as clothing, side tables, and mobile storage cabinets.
If your bathroom has floor mats, move them to the laundry room since you want the floors as bare as possible for the best cleaning. Don’t forget to clean up the space and take out the rubbish.
Apply the cleanser to the showerhead, bathtub, and toilet bowl.
The toilet seat and bowl should be disinfected, and you should let it rest for up to 15 minutes. Apply a ring of toilet bowl cleanser as well, then wait for it to do its job. Oils will need to be removed because the standing time will aid to dissolve them.
To ensure sufficient ventilation, make sure the door is open. You should combine one tablespoon of baking powder, white vinegar, and water if there is significant accumulation. Scrub the grout lines or corners with a moist cloth. After that, wipe off the surfaces with a wet cloth. Use a drop cloth or a cleaner if your door is made of glass.
Surface Cleaning
To clean the shelves, shower curtain and doors, baseboards, windowsills, and blinds, use dish soap or an all-purpose cleaner. To completely clean the region and clean the seams of fixtures, use an old toothbrush. If you have soap dispensers, clean the surfaces down completely with a rag.
Because the shower curtains are susceptible to mildew growth, you should use equal parts water and bleach to remove the stains. Naturally, you should go from top to bottom.
Thoroughly Clean the Bathtub and Shower
You should scrape the bathtub to remove any remaining loose filth now that the cleaner has finished working its magic. For the purpose of removing buildup and bath rings from the shower floors, use abrasive scrubbing pads. In order to get into the cracks and corners, you need also concentrate on the tile grout. Although the handle avoids inadvertent contact with the tub, you may still use a tile brush.
The accumulated deposits in the faucet may also be removed with the use of a cleaning toothbrush. When you’re through, properly clean it to get rid of the product residue.
Vanity or Mirror Area
To clean the surfaces, use glass cleaner and water. You may also buff the surface to a dry sheen using a lint-free substance. Spray a glass cleaner in an S-pattern on the mirror while wearing gloves (top to bottom). Then flip your towel over and buff to a dry sheen.
To clean other services, you may also combine vinegar and water. Use a sponge to clear any accumulation in the soap dish or sink. After that, you may wipe the face of the cabinets off with a moist towel to eliminate any remaining dust.
Toilet Cleaning
If you regularly clean your toilets, the all-purpose cleaner should do the trick. As an alternative, you might apply liquid or granular toilet cleanser and let it rest for a while. You may use a toilet brush and all-purpose cleanser to scrape away soap scum accumulation. Because certain antibacterial products need a certain amount of time to destroy germs, make sure to check the label to see what the typical duration is.
If you wipe the toilet a couple of times a week, you can discover a resistant ring. To get rid of any deposits, gently cleanse the surface and then wipe it off with a clean towel. You may use a pumice stone to remove hard water stains from the bowl. The secret to cleaning the toilet is to start with the areas that are the dirtiest and work your way down.
Close the seat after washing it so that water may drip into the bowl to dry it. Don’t forget to polish the surface with a microfiber towel and return the brush to its holder.
Mopping
Dust and hair should be first removed. After that, mop the floor after putting a mop in a cleaning bucket. But here’s the thing: you should start with awkward places like under the toilet and under the vanity. Don’t be scared to go on your knees if certain places are too difficult for you to access. Once clean, use a disinfectant before placing the new cloths.
Are you someone who is currently battling Covid or have a family member doing so?
Home recovery is now the default for people infected with Covid-19 who have mild or no symptoms. While the infected isolate themselves in a room and refrain from interacting with anyone, there is a higher risk to other people living in the same home. Hence, there is a need to take more thorough precautions.
Prevention is better than cure. Everyone should prioritise keeping your homes clean to fight away the nasty germs and bacteria for your family’s health during this period.
Clean and Disinfect Your Home
The first thing you’ll want to know is that cleaning and disinfecting are two very different things. Cleaning is about removing contaminants from a surface while Disinfecting is about killing pathogens.
While we keep the rest of the home clean, we often overlook high touch points that should be cleaned and disinfected daily as well.
Examples of High-Touch Surfaces to Clean and Disinfect Daily:
Doorknobs
Table surfaces
Hard dining chairs (seat, back, and arms)
Kitchen counters
Bathroom counters
Faucets and faucet knobs
Toilets (seat and handle)
Light switches
TV remote controls
Game controllers
Read on to find out some of the best disinfectant products in Singapore to help you and your family combat the pandemic!
1. Disinfectant sprays
Disinfectant sprays are quick and easy means for germ protection. Spray them onto soft surfaces like bedsheets and linen, sanitise your sofas or simply deodorise the air. They kill 99.9% of viruses and bacteria, prevents mould and mildew from growing and helps eliminate germs and odours.
Most brands also come in different scents for your selection. Household cleaning products don’t get any better smelling than these!
Most of these sprays usually come in a value pack, so do keep a lookout for good deals near you.
Dettol Disinfectant Sprays
Lysol Disinfectant Sprays
2. Antiseptic solutions
The beauty of antiseptic solutions is that they can be used to sanitise almost everything in your home, apart from killing 99.9% of germs! Use them for cleaning the floor, surface cleaning, laundry sanitisation, disinfecting babywear, cleaning cuts and wounds. Definitely a must-have in every home, especially if there are kids!
Bleach is one of the best household cleaners to use with any virus. Most households already have this extremely common item. Use a pre-mixed solution of hot water and bleach to wipe down surfaces like tables and chairs, doorknobs, light switches, remotes, handles, desks, toilets and sinks. Remember to keep this mixture away from fabric that may get discolored.
Dettol Antiseptic Germicide
Clorox Bleach Solution
3. Disinfectant Wipes
Now that most of us are back in offices, venturing outdoors more frequently or even travelling overseas, our disinfectant products need to be more compact but powerful more than ever.
Disinfectant wipes can be used on electronics including smartphones, tablets and remote controls that are magnets for germs and bacteria. They are also easy-to-use, making them perfect for use in your home and office, as well as on the go. They also kill 99.9% of viruses and bacteria, including those that cause flu viruses.
Definitely a must-have when you’re out and about, put one in your bag, your office desk, your car and even your diaper bag so you can now sterilise baby toys and baby gear frequently while on the go!
These wipes are usually sold in single canisters, multi-packs or small packs at a wide range of retailers.
Baking soda is one of the most common household items you can find. It is affordable, readily available in supermarkets, and you may not be aware, but also extremely multi-purposed and versatile in its functionality.
Odour Control
While baking soda is conventionally used for actual baking, it is also commonly known for its cleaning and odour-control properties. In cases of emergency, a box of baking soda may come in more useful than you can imagine.
Aside from its obvious use of baking and the increasing use for cleaning, what is baking soda actually useful for?
Make homemade deodorant. Combine equal parts baking soda, tea tree oil and cornstarch. Mix well and keep in airtight container. Baking soda will quickly make odours less acidic!
Fix musty books. Sprinkle baking soda on damp or musty pages and simply allow time to air out.
Make toothpaste. Mix baking soda with a 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution. Simply add peppermint essential oil to make a peppermint toothpaste.
Unclog and deodorize drains. Toss 1 cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by a cup of white vinegar. Wait for a few minutes then flush down with hot water.
Freshen up your laundry. Add a 1/2 cup of baking soda to your laundry to make liquid detergent work harder. A better balance of pH in the wash gets clothes cleaner and fresher.
Anti-Grease Properties. Add a cup of baking soda to dish soap and let it mix for a few minutes. Use the soap and baking soda combination to combat greasy dishes easily and quickly.
Baking soda is an absolute essential multi-purpose household solution. Be sure to always keep a box of baking soda in case of emergencies.
Have you ever felt so overwhelmed by impending household chores that stresses you out and end up nothing gets done? How do our homes get so dirty and messy so quickly? How do we stay on top of things? How do we get motivated to do the housework – especially when we don’t want to or we’d rather sit and watch Netflix? Well, you are not alone.
Here are some tips on getting motivated to get started today.
Clear the Clutter first. One of THE BEST ways to get motivated? Clear the clutter! Own less and there’ll be less to keep clean and tidy. It sounds obvious, but it works! Do a good purge every few months and get rid of anything we no longer need or use. Not only will it make you feel better – the housework will get done quicker too because there’ll be less to put away!
Start Small, Start Easy. Ask yourself which is going to be the fastest and easiest task, and still enough to make you feel like you have progressed. Start with that. Don’t look at the bigger tasks. You’re doing something, and that’s the first step. You don’t even have to feel guilty about it because you’re taking baby steps. Not only will you feel like you’ve accomplished something, you’ll find the motivation to keep going too!
Everything has a home. One of the biggest reasons our homes get so messy is that our things don’t have proper homes. It could be time for you to sort out your storage. Give everything a proper home. Not only will get your housework done in less time, things stay tidier longer too. Clean out those drawers and cupboards and give everything a proper home. If you can’t think of a place for something, chances are you probably don’t need it and you can get rid of it!
Music for motivation. Have a cleaning playlist! Make it full of upbeat songs that you can’t help but dance to and which puts you in a really good mood. It gets you motivated to get the housework done, and you get a workout at the same time – so it’s a win-win!